Electrolyzing System

ABSTRACT

An electrolyzing system for electrolyzing a brine solution of water and an alkali salt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water is provided. The system includes an internal chamber for receiving the brine solution and two electrolyzer cells immersed in a brine bath. Each electrolyzer cell includes an electrode, at least one ion permeable membrane supported relative to the electrode to define a space communicating between a fresh water supply and a chemical outlet into which brine enters only through the membrane. One of the electrodes is coupled to a positive charging electrical supply and the other to a negative charging electrical supply.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/092,278, filed Apr. 22, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/326,869, filed Apr. 22, 2010, bothof which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems are known that electrolyze water containing alkali salts toproduce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water.Acidic electrolyzed water, which typically has a pH between about 2.0and about 3.5, is a strong sterilizing agent that is increasingly usedin a variety of sanitizing applications including in the medical,agricultural and food processing industries and in other institutionalenvironments. The alkaline or basic electrolyzed water also has asterilizing as well as a detergent effect and is useful in cleaning oiland grease stains. Sodium chloride is commonly used as the alkali saltthat is dissolved in the water because it produces acids and bases thatare environmentally friendly, potent and low in cost.

Commercially available water electrolyzing systems have a number ofdrawbacks. One such system has only a single ion membrane that separatesthe brine from the electrolyzed water. Such systems tend to have highlevels of salt in the acidic solution which can lead to scale buildupand reduce the shelf life of the acidic solution. Another system ismembrane-less and depends on removing the acidic and alkaline solutionsat precise geometric points along the flow of the brine.

Yet another system uses a three chamber structure including an anodechamber, a cathode chamber and an intermediate chamber arranged betweenthe anode and cathode chambers. The intermediate chamber is separated oneach side from the anode and cathode chambers by an electrode plate, amembrane and a rigid plate construction. Each of the electrode plateshas a plurality of openings therein to allow positive or negative ionsto pass into the anode and cathode chambers respectively. Each of therigid plates has striped depressions and projections along with a numberof openings to channel the water in the intermediate chamber to theareas of the openings in the electrode plates.

While the three chamber structure effectively minimizes salt in theacidic output, this system has a complex structure of rigid guide platesthat can impede the free flow of ions into the anode and cathodechambers limiting the efficiency of the system. The openings in theelectrodes also have an adverse effect on the consistency of theelectric fields further hampering the efficiency of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary electrolyzing systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a more specific exemplary embodiment ofan electrolyzing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electrolytic cells of theelectrolyzing system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the electrolytic cells of theelectrolyzing system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an electrolyzingsystem.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view of ends of the electrolytic cells ofthe embodiment of FIG. 5 at the fresh water inlet side of the system.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the ends of the electrolytic cellsof the embodiment of FIG. 5 at the finished chemical product outlet sideof the system.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view of electrolytic cells of theembodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side perspective view showing the brineflow through the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway end perspective view showing the brineflow through the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway end perspective view showing the waterand chemical product flow through the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway end perspective view showing the chemicalproduct flow out of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of another alternativeembodiment of an electrolyzing system.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15showing the brine flow passages.

FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15showing the water and chemical flow passages between the membrane andthe electrode plate.

FIG. 18 is a lateral section view of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15showing the electrolytic cells of the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing the flow of brine,water and chemical product through the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing the flow of brine,water and chemical product through the electrolyzing system of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an illustrativeembodiment of an electrolyzing system 10 constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention. The illustrated electrolyzingsystem 10 is operable to electrolyze a solution of water and an alkalisalt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and/or alkaline or baseelectrolyzed water. Both acidic electrolyzed water (acid sanitizer) andalkaline electrolyzed water (base cleaner) have beneficial sterilizingand cleansing properties making them useful in a variety of applicationsincluding medical, agricultural, food processing and institutional.According to one embodiment, the water and salt solution is a saline orbrine solution comprising water and NaCl. Electrolysis of a brinesolution produces hypochlorous acid as the acid sanitizer and sodiumhydroxide as the base cleaner. As will be appreciated by those skilledin the art, the present invention is not limited to electrolysis of anyparticular solution or use in any particular application.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, theelectrolyzing system 10 incorporates an open brine bath 12 into whichone or more electrolyzer cells 14 are immersed with substantially allsides of the cells open to the brine. The use of an open brine bath 12with immersed electrolyzer cells 14 eliminates the need for anyobstructive intermediate chamber thereby allowing fluid to flow morefreely through the system. It also eliminates the need for complexguides to direct the flow of fluid thereby simplifying the design aswell as increasing its efficiency. In the schematic drawing of FIG. 1,the brine bath 12 includes two cells 14 one incorporating a positivelycharge, electrode plate 16, i.e. an anode, and one incorporating anegatively charged electrode plate 16, i.e. a cathode. The cells 14 areconfigured to electrolyze the brine in the bath 12 and thereby draw inpositively and negatively charged ions into the respective cells 14. Tothis end, ion permeable membranes 18 are provided on each side of theelectrode plate 16 in each cell 14. Arranging membranes 18 on eitherside of each plate 16 increases the production achievable with eachplate 16 by allowing ions to be drawn into the cell 14 from either sideof the electrode plate.

To allow for the flow of ions towards the electrode plate 16, themembranes 18 are ion permeable. In particular, positive ion exchangemembranes 18, i.e. anion permeable membranes, are provided fornegatively charged electrodes 16 and negative ion exchange membranes 18,i.e. cation permeable membranes, are provided for positively chargedelectrodes 16. The membranes 18 are configured to permit ions to passtherethrough but not the salt or the water. As is understood by thoseskilled in the art, minimizing the amount of salt in particularly theacidic electrolyzed water, e.g., hypochlorous acid, extends the shelflife of the resultant acid sanitizer product and reduces equipmentdamage due to corrosion. According to one preferred embodiment, themembranes 18 are double sided and have a rigid yet porous structurebetween them.

To ensure a uniform and optimal electric field intensity, the electrodeplate 16 in each cell 14 can have a solid construction. The use of asolid construction is made possible by the open bath 12 with theimmersed electrolytic cell 14 configuration. Some commercially availableelectrolyzing systems that utilize electrode plates with a plurality ofopenings therein to permit the passage of ions. Those openings, however,can produce dead zones in the electric field produced by the electrode.The design of the system of the present invention allows for the use ofsolid electrode plates 16 that do not have any openings therein. As aresult, the electric fields produced by the electrode plates 16 are moreuniform and consistent thereby allowing the system to operate moreefficiently.

A simplified system 10 according to the invention is shown schematicallyin FIG. 1. In the system of FIG. 1, a brine supply 20 is provided thatis connected to the bath 12 via a brine supply line 22. A brinerecirculation line 24 is also provided which draws spent brine out ofthe bath 12 and returns it to the brine supply 20. As a result of thisarrangement, brine is circulated through the bath 12 and around and pastthe electrolytic cells 14. As the brine passes the electrolytic cells14, it is subject to an electrolysis reaction with the negativelycharged ions being drawn into the cell 14 with the positively chargedelectrode plate 16 and the positively charged ions being drawn in thecell with the negatively charged electrode plate 16. Each of theelectrolytic cells 14 has a fresh water inlet end 26 that is connectedto a supply of fresh water that is directed into the interior space inthe cell 14 between the membranes 18 and the electrode plate 16. In thecell 14, the fresh water mixes with the ions drawn into the cell to formeither the acid sanitizer (in the cell 14 with the positively chargedplate 16) or the base cleaner (in the cell 14 with the negativelycharged plate 16). Each cell 14 has a chemical outlet end 28 that isconnected to a line for drawing the chemicals (acid sanitizer or basecleaner) out of the cell 14. The flow of the brine, fresh water andfinished chemicals through the system can be controlled by appropriatepumps.

To enable the system to be easily scaled to a desired production rate ofacid sanitizer and/or base cleaner, the electrolytic cells 14 can have amodular design with each cell comprising a separate self-containedcartridge that permits multiple cells to be assembled together. Thispermits the system to be scaled to the desired production rate simply byadding or subtracting additional cells or cartridges. An illustrativeembodiment of a system including such modular cells 14 is shown in FIGS.2-4. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, the illustratedembodiment includes a total of five electrolytic cells 14 (threenegatively charged and two positively charged) arranged in a manifoldtype arrangement in a brine bath 12. The cells 14 are generallyrectangular in shape and are received in a rectangular housing 30 thatdefines the brine bath 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the illustratedembodiment includes five cells 14, however, it will be understood thatthe more or less cells could be provided. For example, a system withonly three cells could be provided that had either a 2:1 acid sanitizerto base cleaner production rate or a 2:1 base to acid production rate.Typically, adjacent cells 14 would have one positively charged electrodeplate 16 and one negatively charged electrode plate 16, so that duringoperation, the positively charged ions would flow through the membrane18 of one cell 14 toward the negatively charged plate 16 and thenegatively charged ions would flow through the membrane 18 of theadjacent cell 14 toward the positively charged plate 16. While theassembly of several cells 14 into a manifold type arrangement is shown,it will be appreciated that the cells could be independently submergedin the brine bath 12 as each of the individual cells is designed to beself-contained.

The illustrated brine bath 12 includes a brine inlet/outlet 42 at thelower end of the bath housing 30 through which brine can be introducedinto and drawn out of the bath 12. The bath housing 30 further includesa fresh water inlet 50, in this case, near the upper end of the housingthat can be in communication with a fresh water supply. The inlettingfresh water is shown by the arrow 53 in FIG. 2. As described in greaterdetail below, the fresh water introduced through the fresh water inlet50 is directed into the individual electrolytic cells 14 wherein itmixes with the positively and negatively charged ions drawn through themembranes 18 to form the acid sanitizer and base cleaner. The bathhousing 30 further includes outlets 52 for the formed chemicals arrangedin the illustrated embodiment at the lower end of the bath housing. Theoutletting acid sanitizer is referenced with the arrow 56 and theoutletting base cleaner is reference with the arrow 54 in FIG. 2. Inthis case, the water/chemicals flow downward from the top of the cells14 and exit at the bottom of the cells 14. The flow of water/chemicalsthrough the interior of the cells 14 is shown diagrammatically witharrows in FIG. 2 with the flow of the water being shown with arrows 53,the flow of the base cleaner being shown with arrows 54 and the flow ofthe acid sanitizer being shown with arrows 56.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a pair of exploded views areprovided which show the construction of the electrolytic cells 14 shownin FIG. 2. In FIGS. 3 and 4, two of the cells 14 in the middle of themanifold are shown unexploded while the other three have been explodedto better show the components of each cell. In this case, each cell 14includes an electrode plate 16 that is either positively or negativelycharged. To this end, each electrode plate 16 has an attached lead 80that can be connected to a suitable electrical supply. While theelectrode plates 16 can have a solid construction as discussed above,the electrodes 16 could also employ a honeycomb-like structure featuringa plurality of openings in the electrode as well as a non-flat, such asa dimpled, configuration. Such a construction can have the advantagethat it disrupts and introduces turbulence into the flow of fresh wateras it passes over the electrode 16. It is thought that this additionalturbulence may help the efficiency of the system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the three cells 14 in the middle of themanifold each have an ion exchange membrane 18 on either side of theelectrode 16. The two outmost cells 14 each have only one membrane 18with a blank wall 81 being provided on the other side of the cell 14 todefine the edge of the cell manifold. To ensure adequate spacing isprovided between the adjacent cells 14 as well as to support themembranes 18, membrane supports 38 can be provided on the outer surfaceof each of the membranes 18. These membrane supports 38 enable each cell14 to be arranged together with an immediately adjacent similarlyconstructed cell 14 to create the manifold type arrangement of two ormore cells. The illustrated membrane supports 38 have a window-likeconfiguration with six large openings through which the brine can accessthe membrane 18. In this embodiment, cylindrical outer spacers 82 (seeFIG. 4) are arranged on an outer face of every other membrane support 38in the manifold and engage the outer face of the membrane support 38 ofthe adjacent cell 14 so as to create space between the adjacent cells 14into which the brine can permeate.

To facilitate the attachment of the membranes 18 to the electrode plates16 and to ensure adequate spacing between the membranes 18 and theelectrode plate 16, each cell 14 further includes a cartridge housing 40which provides a structure to which the electrode 16, membrane 18 andmembrane supports 38 can be attached. The cartridge housings 40 have agenerally window like configuration and are constructed in such a mannerthat when the membranes 18 and electrode 16 are connected theretosufficient space is provided between the electrode 16 and the membrane18 to permit the flow of freshwater through the cell 14 and into whichions can be drawn to produce the base cleaner and acid sanitizer. Theinterior space in the cells 14 between the membranes 18 and theelectrode plates 16 into which the charged ions are drawn are sealed offfrom the brine bath 12 such that the only flow path from the bath 12into the interior spaces is through the membranes. The illustratedconfiguration of the cartridge housings 40 limits the points of contactbetween the cartridge housings 40 and the electrode 16 and the cartridgehousings 40 and the respective membrane 18 and thereby defines openspaces in the area between membranes 18 and the electrode plate 16.Advantageously, the membranes 18 are largely unobstructed by thecartridge housings 40 and the membrane supports 38 and the membranes 18are not directly attached to the electrode plates 16 so as to allowmaximum ion transfer from the brine bath 12 to the cell 14. As describedfurther below, the lack of obstructions to the membranes 18 also allowsfor fluid to be constantly refreshed at the membrane surfaces helping tofurther increase the efficiency of the system 10. As will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art, other types of arrangements could be usedto provide the spacing between the membranes and the surfaces of theelectrode plates. For example, raised dimples could be provided on theelectrode plate or polyurethane standoffs could be provided.

To facilitate the flow of water/chemicals through the cells 14, eachcell includes a fresh water distribution channel 62, in this case,through an upper edge of the cartridge housing 40. The fresh waterdistribution channel 62 communicates with the space between theelectrode 16 and the membranes 18 (or membrane if only one is provided)via series of passages 84 that extend through the cartridge housing 40from the distribution channel 62 and communicate with the area betweenthe electrode 16 and the membranes 18. The openings for these passages84 are best shown in FIG. 4. Similar passages are provided at the otherend of the cartridge housing 40 to allow the now formed acid sanitizeror base cleaner to pass into a chemical collection chamber 64 thatextends through the lower edge of the cartridge housing 40. The freshwater distribution channels 62 for each cell 14 are in communicationwith the fresh water inlet 50 to the housing 30 as shown schematicallyin FIG. 2. Likewise, the chemical collection channels 64 for each cell14 are in communication with the appropriate chemical outlet 52 as alsoshown schematically in FIG. 2. As each cell 14 has its own fresh waterdistribution channel 62 and chemical collection chamber 64, each cellcan be considered to be self-contained in that it simply needs to beimmersed in the brine bath and connected to a fresh water source and toa finished chemical outlet.

While the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 shows the fresh waterbeing introduced and the chemicals drawn off at opposite ends of thecells 14, the cells 14 and system 10 could be configured such that thewater is introduced and the chemicals drawn off from the same end of thecells. In such a case, the cells 14 and system 10 could be designed suchthat the water is introduced on one side of the electrode 16 and thentravels down one side of the electrode. At the bottom of the cell 14,the water/chemicals is transferred to the other side of the electrode 16where it travels up the opposite side of the electrode. The chemicalsare then drawn off at the same end of the cell 14 at which the water wasfirst introduced, but on the opposite side of the electrode 16.

While the illustrated electrode plates, and the corresponding membranes,have rectangular configurations, those skilled in the art willappreciate that other configurations could also be used. According toone preferred embodiment, the electrodes and the membranes can beapproximately 20 mm thick and the membranes can be approximately 0.018inches thick and be able to withstand an 80 psi pressure differentialacross the membrane. The precise distances between the membranes andelectrodes of a given cell and the electrodes of adjacent cells can beoptimized through the sizing of the cartridge housings and the membranesupports to reduce energy loss from resistive losses in the fluids.

To provide precise control of formation of the acid sanitizer/basecleaner in the cells 14, including the desired pH, the water flowthrough the inner spaces between the membranes 18 and electrode plates16 can be regulated with an appropriate control system. For example, ifthe electrolyzing system is configured to electrolyze a saline or brinesolution of NaCl and water, the control system can be used to regulatethe water flow and the electrical current so as to control the formationof the acid sanitizer and base cleaner at the desired production rateand at the desired pH. The same or a different control system can beused to control the supply of brine in the bath, including providingreplenishment of the supply of brine in the bath during operation. Thecontrol system can include pumps for the water and brine, valves andsuitable electronic controls.

An alternative embodiment of an electrolyzing system 10 is shown inFIGS. 5-14. The embodiment of 5-14 has similarities to the embodimentshown in FIGS. 2-4 and for ease of reference like components have beengiven the same reference numbers in the Figures. In the illustratedembodiment, each cell 14 includes either a positive or negativelycharged electrode plate 16 with membranes 18 arranged on both of theflat sides of the plate. The illustrated housing 30 includes four sidewalls 32 and attaches to a lower base 34 and an upper cap or cover 36.In this instance, the electrolytic cells 14 are arranged in an uprightmanner in the bath 12 and extend between the base 34 and the cover 36and electrical connections 37 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) for the electrodeplates 16 are provided in the base 34. The cells 14 are supported in thehousing 30 in parallel closely spaced relation to each other in amanifold type arrangement. As shown in FIG. 7, the illustratedembodiment includes four cells 14.

Membrane supports 38 are provided on the outer surface of each of themembranes 18 as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. In this embodiment, whenthe cells 14 are assembled together in a manifold type arrangement, asingle membrane support 38 can be provided between adjacent cells 14 inorder to provide support for the membranes 18 of the adjacent cells 14as shown in FIG. 10. The membrane supports 38 can provide a windowpane-like configuration with legs extending around the perimeter of therespective membrane 18 and cross-members that extend between two of thelegs so as to define open spaces between the membranes 18 of adjacentcells (see, e.g., FIGS. 11 and 12). First cartridge housings 40 can alsobe provided on either side of each electrode plate 16. The membrane 18can be attached to each of the cartridge housings 40 so that themembrane 18 is spaced a distance from the corresponding surface of theelectrode plate 16 thereby defining an interior space in the cell 14.This spacing is best shown in FIG. 10. As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 15, which utilizes the same cartridge housing 40 construction thatcan be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-14, the cartridge housings 40can provide a window pane-like configuration with legs extending aroundthe perimeter of the electrode plate 16.

In operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 5-14, fresh brine is fed to thebath 12 in the interior of the housing 30 through an inlet 42 providedon one of the sidewalls 32 of the housing (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The brineflows past the outer surface of the membranes 18 of a cell 14 on eitherside of the respective electrode plate 16 to a brine outlet 44 provided,in the illustrated embodiment, on the opposing sidewall 32 of thehousing. The flow of brine between the inlet and outlet 42, 44 is showndiagrammatically with arrows 45 in FIG. 11. To facilitate the flow ofbrine past the membranes 18 of the cells 14, the membrane supports 38each have a plurality of brine flow entry 46 and exit passages 48 (seeFIG. 6) therein that permit fluid flow through the membrane supports 38,in this case, in a direction parallel to the surface of the membranes 18and between the cross-members of the membrane supports 38 (see FIG. 12).These flow passages 46, 48 allow the brine to pass into the area betweenthe membranes 18 of adjacent cells 14 and thereby around the individualcells 14.

The interior of the cells 14 between the membranes 18 and the electrodeplate 16 are in fluid communication with a source of water that mixeswith the ions drawn through the membranes to form the acid sanitizer andbase cleaner. To this end, the housing 30 includes a fresh water inlet50, in this case at the upper end of one of the sidewalls 32 of thehousing (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 13). Outlets 52 for the formed chemicals arearranged, in this case, at the lower end of one of the sidewalls 32 ofthe housing 30 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 14). As a result, in the illustratedembodiment, the water/chemicals flow downward from the top of the cells14 and exit at the bottom of the cells 14. The flow of water/chemicalsthrough the interior of the cells is shown diagrammatically with arrowsin FIGS. 13 and 14 with the flow of the water being shown with arrows53, the flow of the base cleaner being shown with arrows 54 and the flowof the acid sanitizer being shown with arrows 56 in FIG. 14.

To facilitate the flow of water/chemicals through the inner spacesbetween the membranes 18 and the electrode plate, the cells 14 include aplurality of entry passages 58 along the upper edge thereof and exitpassages 60 along the lower end thereof as shown, for example, in FIG.6. In this case, the entry and exit passages 58, 60 are defined by slotsin the electrode plate (see, e.g., FIG. 13). The entry passages 58 alongthe upper end of the cells 14 connect to a fresh water distributionchamber 62 that is in communication with the fresh water inlet 50 asshown in FIGS. 8 and 13. Similarly, the exit passages 60 along theopposing lower edge of the cells 14 connect to chemical collection areas64 that are in communication with the respective chemical outlets 52through which the acid sanitizer or base cleaner formed in the cell 14can be drawn out of the system 10 (see FIGS. 9 and 14) via distributionchannels provided in the base 34 of the housing 10. Separate collectionareas 64 and distribution channels are provided for the cells 14 withpositively charged electrode plates 16 and those with negatively chargedelectrode plates 16 to keep the formed acid sanitizer and base cleanerseparated as best shown in FIG. 9. The fresh water distribution chamber62 in the cover plate of the housing and the chemical collection areas64 in the base of the housing should be sealed off from the brine bathto prevent any contamination from the brine.

A further embodiment of an electrolyzing system 10 is shown in FIGS.15-20. This embodiment has similarities to the other disclosedembodiments and for ease of reference like components have been giventhe same reference numbers in the figures. The main difference betweenthis embodiment and the embodiment of FIGS. 5-14 lies in the way thewater/chemicals flow through the system 10 and the resultant location ofthe various inlets and outlets. In particular, with the embodiment ofFIGS. 15-20, the fresh water inlet 50 and the chemical outlets 52 areboth arranged in the top of the housing 30. Because of this arrangement,the water/chemical flow first travels down one cell 14, then is directedacross to another like charged cell 14 and then up that cell where itthen exits the system.

FIG. 19 diagrammatically shows with arrows both the brine flow (arrows66), fresh water flow (arrows 67) and chemical flow (arrows 68) throughthe system. The brine flow past the outer surfaces of the membranes 18of the individual cells 14 is generally the same as that described inconnection with the previously described embodiments. The flow of thewater/chemical is shown in greater detail in FIG. 20 with respect to theflow associated with the positively charged electrolytic cells 14. InFIG. 20, fresh water is shown entering a positively charged electrolyticcell 14 through the upper end thereof into the interior space betweenthe electrode plate 16 and the associated membranes 18. It then travelsdownward through the cell 14 until it reaches the bottom. It then exitsthe cell 14 and travels via a distribution channel 70 to the cell oneover, which is the next nearest positively charged cell 14. Thewater/chemical then enters that cell 14 at the lower edge thereof andtravels upward through the cell until it exits the cell at the upperend. The top plate of the housing includes separate distributionchannels 72, 74 for the two chemical products (i.e., separatedistribution channels for the outlet of the positively charged cells andfor the outlet of the negatively charged cells) to direct the productsto their respective outlets 52.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A method for electrolyzing a brine solution of water and an alkalisalt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzedwater, the method comprising: providing a brine solution in a brine bathdefined by an internal chamber of a housing; immersing a firstelectrolyzer cell in the brine bath having a first electrode that isconnectable to an electrical supply which positively charges theelectrode and a cation permeable membrane that is supported relative tothe first electrode so as to define a first space between the firstelectrode and the cation permeable membrane that is sealed off from thebrine bath such that the only path for brine to enter the first space isthrough the cation permeable membrane; supplying fresh water to an inletend of the first space between the cation permeable membrane and thefirst electrode; drawing acidic electrolyzed water from an outlet end ofthe first space; and immersing a second electrolyzer cell in the brinebath having a second electrode that is connectable to an electricalsupply which negatively charges the electrode and an anion permeablemembrane that is supported relative to the second electrode so as todefine a second space between the second electrode and the anionpermeable membrane that is sealed off from the brine bath such that theonly path for brine to enter the second space is through the anionpermeable membrane; supplying fresh water to an inlet end of the secondspace between the anion permeable membrane and the second electrode; anddrawing alkaline electrolyzed water from an outlet end of the secondspace.
 2. The method of claim 1 further including the step ofselectively inserting and removing one or more of the electrolyzer cellsfrom the brine bath to provide a desired production rate of the acidicelectrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, including arranging the electrolyzer cells in the brine bathsuch the respective electrodes of adjacent cells are oppositely charged.4. The method of claim 1, wherein two cation permeable membranes aresupported relative to opposing sides of the first electrode such thatfirst spaces sealed from the brine are provided on either side of thefirst electrode, simultaneously supplying fresh water to inlet ends ofthe first spaces between the first electrode and the cation permeablemembranes; simultaneously drawing acidic electrolyzed water from outletends of the first spaces between the first electrode and the cationpermeable membranes; and wherein two anion permeable membranes aresupported relative to opposing sides of the second electrode such thatsecond spaces sealed from the brine are provided on either side of thesecond electrode; simultaneously supplying fresh water to inlet ends ofthe second spaces between the second electrode and the anion permeablemembranes; and simultaneously drawing alkaline electrolyzed water fromoutlet ends of the second spaces between the second electrode and theanion permeable membranes.
 5. The method of claim 1, includingsupporting each membrane by a support arranged on a side of the membranethat is opposite the respective electrode.
 6. The method of claim 1,including supporting each electrolyzer cell in a respective a cartridgehousing.
 7. The method claim 1, including arranging the electrolyzercells in spaced parallel relationship in the brine bath so as define anarea between adjacent cells into which the brine can flow.